Fire-prevention mechanism for dry-kilns.



F. W. RUBIN.

FIRE PREVENTlON MECHANISM FOR DRY KILNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. 1917.

1,262,849. Patented Apr. 16, 1918. 52 Z ran srarras rare @WWEQ FREDERICK W. RUBIN, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

FIRE-PREVENTION MECHANISM FOR DRY-KILNS.

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of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Fire-Prevention Mechanism for Dry- Kilns; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to assist automatically in controlling fires in lumber dry kilns and the like. These kilns have iues and the flues encourage and facilitate the progress of a fire in such a structure when once started. This invention closes the flues and otherwise retards the progress of the fire.

The chief feature of the invention consists in providing means for closing the openings in the fiues of lumber dry kilns and the like which is automatically controlled by means set in operation by excessive heat in the dry kiln.

Another feature of the invention consists in connecting with the same means, means for discharging live steam into the dry kiln to choke and retard the fire.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the entrance portion of a lumber dry kiln and showing the flue openings in normal condition. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a flue opening and door for closing the same and of the means for operating said door, parts being brokenaway. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 -3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a vertical section on the line 4l4= of Fig. 3.. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a flue opening with the door thereof closed. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary edge view looking in the'direction of the arrows 6-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2, with the door closed.

In the drawings there is shown herein a lumber dry kiln of the usual construction having side walls 10, a roof 11, flues 12 at the entrance end thereof, a door opening '13, a door'14, a track 15, a track support 16, a lumber truck 17 thereon, and exhaust steam pipe system 18 for drying the lumber. This W. RUBIN,

There is a series of fiue openings 20in the flue 12 through which the heated air in the kiln escapes. These fiue' openings are formed, as shown in Fig. 5, of a substan- 't1ally rectangular casing 21 adapted to be Specification of Letters latent. Patented Apr; 1& 191$, Application filed March 21, 1917. Serial No. 156,418.

closed and opened by a door 22 which is pivoted at its upper right-hand corner at 23 and operates between the casing 21 and the door frame 24: secured thereto and spaced therefrom. "The door has an upward arm 25 extending therefromwith which a rod 26 is connected. This rod extends to a sliding plate 27, as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which has a number of perforations'28 whereby it is caught on a point 29 extending upward from a plate 30 which is secured to a rigid post or rod 31 mounted on the side wall 10 and bolts 33.

There are six of these flue openings shown and the corresponding parts just described are duplicated for each opening excepting the post 31 and arms 32. The pivoting of the doors 22 at the upper right-hand corner causes them to close by gravity and they are held open by the rods 26, plate 27 and pin 29. When the plate 27 is elevatedand released from the pin 29, the door 22 will close by gravity, as shown in Fig. 5, and close the iflue opening. It is desired that all of the of the kiln by means of T-shapegl arms 32 I hand, the plates 27 being returned and re-set in the position shown in Fig. 2.

The mechanism is operated for closing the flue openings by live steam coming in through the steam pipe 50 which is controlled by a valve 51. This valve is heldclosed by a wire 52 connected therewith and extending to a pin 53 inthe roof 11. This wire 52 is made of metal fusible at a low temperature so that when a fire occurs, the abnormal heat will fuse the wire 52 and the valve 51 will be opened by a spring 54: which extends from said valve to the roofing at 55.

Steam enters a cylinder 60, see Figs. 1 and 2, and actuates and elevates the piston 61' therein and the piston rod 62 wh1ch is connected with the vertical rod 40. That will release all of the doors and close the door openings of the flue so that the flue will afford no draft for the aid of the fire. Assuming that at this time also the door 14 is closed, the dry kiln will be closed and sealed so that the fire will be deprived of air from outside of the kiln and thus its progress be retarded.

The progress of the fire is further retarded by discharging live steam from a steam pipe 70-. This is normally closed by a valve 71,-but is opened by a valve arm 72 operatively connected with piston rod 73 in the cylinder 74 which is supplied with steam from said pipe 50 at the same time the other cylinder 60 is supplied with steam. The two cylinders 60 and 74; and the pistons and piston rods are alike. Therefore, when' steam enters the cylinder 74, the valve 71 will be opened and the dry kiln will be filled with steam and moisture.

The invention is not limited to the details of what isshown herein, the latter being for the purpose of illustrating the general nature of the invention.

The. invention claimed is:

1. The combination of a dry kiln, a flue therefor having a flue opening, a door adapted to close the flue when released, means for holding the door open, fluid actuated means for releasin said door holding means, avalve for shutting ofl' the fluid for releasing said door holding means, fusible means for holding the valve in closed position, and means for opening said valve when released by said fusible means.

2. The combination with a dry kiln, and a flue therefor having a flue opening, of a door adapted when released to close the flue opening, releasable means for holding the door open, steam-actuated means for releas-' ing said door holding means, a valve for controlling the supply of steam to the.

steam-actuated means, a spring for moving 7 said valve to open position, and means fusimal heat for normally holding said valve closed.

4.. The combination with a dry kiln, and a flue therefor having a flue opening, of a door for closing the flue opening and adapted to close when released, a live steam pipe for introducing steam into the dry kiln, a valve for normally closing said pipe, steamactuated means for releasing the door, steam-actuated means for opening said valve, a single steam pipe for conveying steam to said door closing and valve opening means, a valve in said steam pipe, and means set in operation by the abnormal heat in the dry kiln for opening said last-mentioned valve.

5. The combination with a dry kiln, and a flue therefor having a flue opening, of a door for closing the flue opening and adapted to close when released, a live steam pipe for introducing steam into the dry kiln, a

v valve for normally closing said Pipe, steamactuated means for releasing the door, steam-actuated means for opening said valve, a single steam pipe for conveying I steam to said door closing and valve opening means, a valve in said steam pipe, a sprmg for opening said last-mentioned valve, and means fusible by abnormal heat for holding said valve closed.

Tn witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature FREDERICK W. RUBIN.v 

